Students collect 3,000 cans

Members of the fifth-grade Student Council at Madisonville Intermediate pose with just some of the many cans they have helped collect for the less-fortunate this holiday season.

Meteor photo by Campbell Atkins

Posted
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 2:30 am

By Campbell Atkins
Sports writer

Madisonville Intermediate School students continue to rack up non-perishables for a holiday food drive in order to assist those less fortunate in the community. In just over a week, the students have collected over 3,000 cans of food for donation.

“I think it’s fabulous that our kids are thinking of ways to give back, especially around this time of year,” said the Principle of Madisonville Intermediate, Tawnya Nail. “They’re learning that Christmas time isn’t just about receiving but what can be done to give back to their community as a whole.”

It all started with a competition. The school managed to collect about 6,000 cans last time and wanted to challenge themselves and each other for more.

“We’re competing between grade levels,” said Nicole Coleman, the student council sponsor who has been working with the kids on the food drive. “Inside the grade levels, we are competing between each class. The class who brings in the most will get a prize at the end of the week.”

Coleman also listed various incentives for the children to compete individually. Students who brought in two cans were allowed to wear a hat to school or sit with a friend in class. On Tuesday, the student who supplied the most cans was awarded the opportunity to throw a pie in the face of one of the faculty members.

The fifth-grade Student Council is comprised of members who have been collecting cans for over two years. Last year, some of them were able to go to the Kimbro Center to sort through donated cans and learn what they really mean and where they go.

“To me, it’s great that we’re giving cans to those people who may not have enough money to buy them,” said fifth grader Luke Coleman. “Anything they can get to help them survive is definitely good and it’s important to help the poor.”

“A lot of us know where we’re going to get our next meal,” said fifth grader Omar Hinojosa. “But some people don’t know what they’re going to eat next or what they’re going to do.”

KBTX will hold its annual food drive early this morning at various locations across Brazos Valley, including the Kimbro Center from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you would like to donate, make sure the items are non-perishable.